Rubber shoe.



I. s. GAPEN.

RUBBER SHOE. APPLIOATION FILED MAY 12, 1909 972,996. Patented 001;. 18, 1910.

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RUBBER SHOE.

Specification of Application filed May 12,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH S. CAPEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stoughton, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Rubber Shoes, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to rubber footwear and more particularly to the commercial rubber shoe, which is provided with a heel portion to receive the heel of the boot or shoe of the wearer.

My invention aims to provide a shoe that will better withstand the use to which it is subjected, and the invention consists in certain features of construction which will be best understood from a description of a selected embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings,-Figure 1, in top view, partially broken away, shows an illustrative embodiment .of my invention; and Fig. 2, a vertical cross section on the dotted line 22, looking toward the back of the heel.

Referring to the drawings, in the particular embodiment of my invention here selected for illustration the rubber shoe may be of general type, shape and structure, to suit the preference of the manufacturer.

As best illustrated in Fig. 2, the heel portion of the rubber is made up of an outer tread portion 3 of rubber or rubber composition, formed preferably integrally with the side heel portions 1 which are shaped to embrace the heel portion of the wearers shoe sufliciently to retain the rubber shoe in position.

Within the outer rubber portions 3- 1 described is laid a sole lining 5, covering the sole or tread portion 3 and next to the side heel portions 4 of the heel upper, and eX- tending up a substantial distance thereof is the cloth heel piece 6, the lower edge of which is brought down and laid over upon the edge of the sole lining 5. Seated upon the sole or tread lining 5 and the inturned edge of the cloth heel piece 6 is a supporting member 7, preferably of leather, but which may be of any other desired and suitable wear-resisting and supporting material, the same being shaped to correspond to the interior shape of the heel portion of the rubber Lett rs Pat nt- Patented (lot. 18, 1910. 1909. Serial No. 495,471.

shoe and substantially coextensive with the said heel.

An additional side rag heel lining 8 is p0- sitioned as shown, and has its lower margin inturned at 9 to overlie the marginal portion of the supporting member 7. Within this additional lining strip 8 is the inner shoe lining 10, having its lower marginal edge also inturned over the margin of the said supporting member 7.

Upon the supporting member 7, and overlying the inturned margins of the shoe lining 8 and rag heel lining 10, is a tread heel piece 11 of the inner sole, preferably of cloth and lined at its under side or coated with a layer 12 of rubber or rubber composition.

All the members above referred to are preferably frictioned or otherwise cemented or treated to cause them to adhere firmly to each other and in position either when vulcanized or without, as the manufacturer may desire.

I have found that any attempt to place a leather or other supporting member 7 under the heel piece or lining, and between the latter and the outer or tread portion 3, has resulted in a liability of injury to the lining by reason of the pressure of the heel thereon, and particularly when bearing unevenly thereon as when nails or slugs in the heel of the leather shoe press heavily upon the said lining. The effect has been to out through the lining and thus lead to the early destruction of the rubber shoe in the vicinity of the heel. To eliminate or at least to reduce this liability, my present invention comprehends providing the heel tread piece ll12 of the inner sole with a, preferably central, expansion aperture 13, shown best in Fig. 1, and which permits the material of the tread lining to give more or less or yield outwardly in any direct-ion toward the point or points where the greatest weight or pressure is sustained or placed. Without such an expansion aperture, if the slugs at opposite sides of the leather shoe heel bear heavily upon the tread piece or lining, tending to depress the latter wherever the projections occur, the material being held against movement and stretched between both its side edges, would be cut through and quickly damaged. The expansion aperture here provided permits the material at opposite side edges of the tread piece to depress under or before the slugs or projecting portions on the leather shoe heel, and being unattached between the side edges and free to draw apart as necessary, the said material is not broken or cut through but adapts itself to the necessary conformation. The result of this construction is to add to the life of the tread piece or lining and correspondingly add to the life of the rubber shoe.

I have found a circular expansion aperture to answer every purpose because it provides for a free movement of the lining material in any or all directions, but obviously this expansion aperture may be variously shaped, to conform to the preference of the manufacturer or purchaser.

The various linings and parts of a rubber shoe being either inherently elastic, or eustomarily united elastically as by a rubber cement, are free to give more or less when not confined in such manner as to prevent the same, so that the expansion opening, by removing an inelastic textile tie between 0pposite side edges of the heel, permits the ma terial at opposite sides of the said opening to move bodily under the action of pressure thereon to any extent permitted by the elastic cement or rubber coatings which hold the same in position.

This invention is particularly useful in connection with the present high and small diameters of heels, which throw the weight of the wearer upon a relatively small area which tends to an early destruction of shoes made as heretofore. My invention provides for any necessary movement of the lining material called for by the location of the pressure when the shoe is in use.

I have found a single, central aperture to be ordinarily sufiicient, but obviously my invention is not restricted to a single expansion aperture.

Having described one embodiment of my invention, and without limiting myself to details, what I claim and desire to secure b Letters Patent is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a rubber shoe comprising a rubber heel tread, a superposed supporting member, and a further superposed sole lining provided with an expansion aperture.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a rubber shoe comprising an outer heel tread and its lining, a superposed leather supporting member, and an inner sole lining, rubber coated, arranged above said leather member and provided with an aperture Within its margin and above said leather member.

3. As a new article of manufacture a rubber shoe comprising the outer tread and sides 34, one or more side heel linings at 8, the heel-supporting member 7 and the inner sole lining 11-12 provided with the central aperture 13.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH S. CAPEN.

\Vitnesses EVERETT S. EMERY, ROBERT H. KAMMLER. 

